SafetyDetective interview with Wale Arewa - Xperien
With more than two decades of leadership in the IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) space, Xperien has become a driving force in secure, sustainable technology lifecycle management. At the helm is founder and CEO Wale Arewa, whose career began in construction before a recession sparked a pivot into electronics and IT. In this interview, Arewa reflects on the evolution of the ITAD industry, the importance of ESG-driven practices, and how Xperien is using old tech to power new opportunities—both for organizations and the environment.
Xperien has been a leader in IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) for over two decades. What key challenges do organizations face when retiring IT assets, and how does Xperien help mitigate them?
The best way to explain the challenges and opportunities in the industry is to frame them through the ESG lens.Starting with the environmental aspect — electronics and e-waste are the fastest-growing waste streams on the planet. Companies must ensure their retired IT assets aren't contributing to that waste.On the social side, we often talk about the 1% and the digital divide. Companies can help bridge that gap. Used IT assets can be repurposed and donated to disadvantaged individuals in society.Under governance, there are two key factors: protecting personal information and recovering value from end-of-life equipment. Those are the pillars of what we do within the governance framework of ESG.
Can you introduce yourself and talk about what led you to found Xperien?
My name is Wale Arewa. I'm the founder and CEO of Xperien. I'm a family man.I originally started out in the construction industry, but a recession hit in 1993, and I had to find something else to do. Electronics had always been my childhood hobby, and during that time, the opportunity came up to start building PCs. It felt like a natural progression.Twenty or thirty years later, I'm still in the industry. Back then, it was called asset recovery, but environmental and data protection laws have since transformed it into what we now know as the ITAD industry.
With data security being a major concern at the end of an asset’s lifecycle, how does Xperien ensure that sensitive data is securely erased or destroyed?
Data loss leads to reputational damage, so preventing that is critical. There are three main industry-standard methods for data elimination: physical destruction, degaussing, and software erasure.Physical destruction involves putting a hard drive or media through a large shredder to granulate the material.Degaussing uses a powerful magnet to eliminate data from a hard drive — both methods render the drive unusable.The preferred method in the industry is software erasure. It’s the most environmentally friendly because it allows the hard drive to be reused.
Many organizations struggle to comply with regulations like the PoPI Act and GDPR when disposing of IT assets. What best practices should companies follow to remain compliant?
The simple answer is to use a professional ITAD company with proper accreditation — where processes and procedures have been vetted.From a macro level, what we do might seem simple, but let me give you a real-world example: Morgan Stanley. A few years ago, they replaced IBM as their ITAD provider with a removals company to handle server logistics. They saved $100,000 upfront.However, that decision ended up costing them $163 million in a class-action lawsuit over three years. They tried to save money, but it backfired.Before companies try to cut costs on ITAD providers, they should take a serious look at that case — it’s all over the internet.
Sustainability is a growing focus in IT asset management. How does Xperien balance secure ITAD with environmentally responsible e-waste management?
I covered some of this earlier under ESG. But I don't think it's a balancing act.Secure ITAD is 99% sustainable. There’s nothing to balance. Our entire service offering is already framed through an ESG lens. That’s how we operate.
As ITAD continues to evolve, what trends or technological advancements do you see shaping the industry in the next five years?
AI is being used more broadly in automation, and ESG has become a big focus. Even if your services aren’t explicitly labeled under ESG, organizations are adopting ESG principles across the board.
At Xperien, we're going above and beyond environmental protection. We're promoting biodiversity conservation.
We take the residual value of companies’ IT equipment and encourage them to donate that money to biodiversity projects. Some of the initiatives we’re involved in include regenerating indigenous species, river cleanups, and community engagement in collaboration with authorities on environmental issues.